food IS a theme park
What’s even sweeter than a sugar cube? A Mickey-shaped sugar cube!
Mickey Sugar Cubes
That’s right — at Flying Fish and several other table service restaurants this week — we spotted Mickey Mouse-shaped sugar cubes.
This year is going to be BIG for the Disney Parks. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
is opening at Walt Disney World on August 29 and at Disneyland on May 31. Plus the all-new Skyliner transportation system will begin operating at Walt Disney World in the summer or fall! But that’s not all…
Oga’s Cantina © Disney
Trattoria al Forno
opened on Walt Disney World’s BoardWalk in 2014, and from its inception, the Italian eatery has been a warm and welcoming place for guests to enjoy a meal.
In 2017, Trattoria al Forno expanded its dining options by adding a unique character breakfast called the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast. This character meal allows guests to meet Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, Ariel, and Prince Eric while dining on entrees and pastries inspired by Tangled and The Little Mermaid.
The Bon Voyage Adventure is a playful meal full of references to the animated films, but dinner at Trattoria al Forno remains a sophisticated affair (as far as theme park dining goes). There’s no dress code here, which makes it a convenient spot to grab dinner after a day at nearby Hollywood Studios or Epcot. The restaurant is also just a quick walk from the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, making it relatively simple to get to even if you’re not staying at BoardWalk Inn and Villas.
We thoroughly enjoyed our initial dinner here when Trattoria opened, and I was excited to dig into more of the slightly eclectic menu and to savor a little more of the cozy ambiance.
Trattoria al Forno sign
Trattoria al Forno commands quite a bit of real estate on the BoardWalk, owing to its spacious interior. The black awnings and the gold text on the signs are classy and let you know that you’re about to dine in style. You’ll also find the BoardWalk’s walk-up pizza window tucked beneath one of the awnings.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation in 2019 and will be using the Disney Dining Plan, you’re likely already thinking about where you’ll eat and how you’ll maximize those credits.
Flame Tree Barbecue is still a great way to maximize a quick service credit!
Lucky for you, we have tons of resources to help you with all of that! Whether you’re trying to make the most of quick service credits or trying to maximize your table service credits, there’s a DFB post for you. 😉
Just like Hollywood Studios, there are lots of exciting things coming to Epcot in the near future! Between two new attractions, the Skyliner, Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, and two new table service restaurants, we have more than a few updates for you this week.
The Imagination Pavilion
Want to know more about what we found in Future World and around the World (Showcase)? Let’s go!
In the pantheon of inspired restaurants at Walt Disney World, Jiko — The Cooking Place has been at the top and at the bottom for me over the past few years. I’ve had excellent meals there, and I’ve had ho-hum meals there. So let’s see how this one turns out!
This Signature table service spot is located on the lower level of Animal Kingdom Lodge, across from Boma, the resort’s popular African- and Indian-inspired buffet. (Incidentally, if you’re looking for AKL’s quick service restaurant, The Mara, you’ll also access that through the lower level, too.)
Jiko has been a guest favorite for years. The menu is a celebration of the many and varied food traditions of the African continent, employing high-end ingredients and traditional African components to create a unique (in Disney World anyway) dining experience for guests.
And while Jiko’s menu features a selection of meat dishes (you’ll see several examples below), vegan and vegetarian diners may be offered a variety of choices on a separate menu, so be sure to ask.
Jiko Sign
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
is one of those places at Walt Disney World’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios that you have to experience at least once.
I mean, dining in a convertible car watching kitchy old science fiction movie clips under a faux starlit sky is really a bespoke dining adventure.
But the food…hasn’t ever been the big draw here. And that’s okay — we’re in it for the fun atmosphere! But we do keep coming back to try to food because I’m looking forward to the day that I can say both the experience AND the food are fun at Sci-Fi.
A menu change resulted in some interesting meal options, so I was happy to drive (er, walk) in and give it another shot. But the contrast between these menu items (and an old standby) really couldn’t be more divergent.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
Ever wanted to hang out with two of the hottest chefs in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs, sipping some sake and moonshine? Well, your dream is within reach (for a price) with a unique progressive dinner that celebrates the work of Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Chef Art Smith.
©Patina Group
Sebastian’s Bistroopened at Walt Disney World’s Caribbean Beach Resort in October
— just in time to get in on the holiday action that’s taking over the World!
Sebastian’s Bistro sign
Sebastian’s will be serving up Thanksgiving lunch and dinner this year! Life is the bubbles — and the turkey, evidently!
We’re big fans of The BOATHOUSE in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs, so when we spot a new dessert on the menu, we get kind of excited. And in this case, we spied something pretty awesome on The BOATHOUSE’s Instagram account.
The Boathouse Sign
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